Brighton High School class of 2015 graduate Ethan Curtis is a top contender in science and math competitions for super smart young people.

After placing in the top 20 nationally in Chemistry Olympiad, Curtis has a real shot at winning the whole thing. He is currently at a two-week study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The top four Chemistry Olympiads in the country will be selected during the camp to represent the U.S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad.

Of his many academic accomplishments, making it so far in Chemistry Olympiad is his proudest, Curtis said.

However, it did not just come easy to him. He had to work for it.

"At first, I didn't do very well at all," the first time he tried Chemistry Olympiad sophomore year. "I really don't think I would have done as well as I've done without doing as poorly as I did at first. Probably, not succeeding is as valuable as succeeding. You learn you have to work for it," Curtis said.

Curtis's academic excellence placed him on this year's Livingston Daily Press & Argus All-County Academic Team. The newspaper is honoring 12 of the county's top students with the recognition this year.

The National Merit Scholar is certainly a high achiever. He earned a 4.0 grade point average, scored 35 points (out of 36 possible points) on the ACT exam and achieved a nearly perfect SAT score of 2360.

Another academic competition Curtis schooled is the Michigan Math Prize Competition (MMPC). He placed 87th in the state of Michigan out of thousands of students.

Curtis is a bit of a Renaissance man. Beyond academics, he also excels at tennis. He was the captain of his varsity tennis team. "Of all of the activities I do, tennis may be my favorite. I've made a lot of friends and had a lot of experiences through tennis that I would not have had otherwise," he said.

His parents are Sandy and Rob Curtis; his brother, Jacob, 19, is studying math and physics at UM.

"(Jacob) did Chemistry Olympiad when he went through high school. I was partially inspired by him. He left big shoes for me to fill," Curtis said.

Up next, Curtis is going to the University of Michigan to study chemistry and math in its Literature Science and the Arts Honors College.

"In chemistry and math, sometimes you get presented with little problems that don't click right away and you have to apply what you know and figure out what you don't to come to some logical reason for why things are the way they are," Curtis said of what he enjoys about math and science.

Contact Livingston Daily county and townships reporter Jennifer Eberbach at 517-548-7148 or at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Twitter @JenTheWriter.

This is the time of year when the Livingston Daily celebrates the achievements of graduating high school seniors by naming an All-County Academic Team from among the top students at Livingston County's high schools. This year's 12-member All-County Academic Team draws students from the county's five public high schools - Brighton, Howell, Hartland, Pinckney and Fowlerville - as well as the Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy, Livingston Christian and FlexTech. One additional student will be named to the team each day in the Livingston Daily and on LivingstonDaily.com. Check back here to see new names as they are added to the team.

Some people might look at Claire Schiefelbein's list of activities and think she was too busy to have fun.

But the Hartland High School graduate doesn't see it that way.

"I was doing what I loved," she said.

For the record, that included playing the flute, piccolo and serving as a section leader for her school's marching band and being a member of the Hartland varsity ski team.

It also included serving on the school's Link Crew - upperclassmen who help acclimate freshmen to high school life - and being a member of the student Optimist Club and National Honor Society.

She'll be busy after graduation, too.

Schiefelbein will be working through late summer, when she'll leave to attend Cornell University. She'll be studying engineering at the Ivy League institution, based in Ithaca, N.Y.

A Brighton Township resident, Schiefelbein is the daughter of John Schiefelbein and Janine Brandner. Her sister, Grace Schiefelbein is also a Hartland student.

- Wayne Peal

Connor Norton, valedictorian for Howell High School, plans to be in the University of Michigan's marching band.Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily

Connor Norton

Grad wants to one day be a software developer

Connor Norton is not afraid to push himself, striving instead to go above and beyond in everything he does.

"I've always been not satisfied in doing 'just enough' to get by," the Howell High School valedictorian said. "I've been the type to put forth my best effort and push myself. ... I also love to learn."

Because Norton enjoys learning and pushing himself, he plans to attend the University of Michigan to major in computer science. He hopes to one day work for Apple before starting his own software development business.

While academics is important to Norton, so is music - a passion he has had since he first learned how to play on an electric keyboard. He plays drums and the piano and plans on joining the marching band at University of Michigan.

Norton is most looking forward to the internships and research opportunities he believes the University of Michigan will give him.

Brighton High School class of 2015 graduate Thomas Oliver discovered his passion for computer engineering at a young age.

"It started when I built a computer that recorded TV with my dad when I was in like seventh grade," Oliver said.

Oliver compares the gadget he and his dad built to "a TIVO without any monthly fees," he said.

Oliver earned a 4.0 grade point average and scored 35 points (out of 36 possible points) on the ACT exam.

He is the son of Mark and Annette Oliver. He has three sisters Michelle, 25, Kristin, 22, and Rachel, 10.

Oliver is headed to the University of Michigan next year to get a degree from the College of Engineering.

- Jennifer Eberbach

Ethan Curtis is top contender in Chemistry Olympiad.Alan Ward/Livingston Daily

Ethan Curtis

Grad is top contender in Chemistry Olympiad

Ethan Curtis is a top contender in science and math competitions.

After placing in the top 20 nationally in Chemistry Olympiad, Curtis has a real shot at winning the whole thing. He is currently at a two-week study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The top four in the country will be selected during the camp to represent the U.S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad.

Of his many academic accomplishments, making it so far in Chemistry Olympiad is his proudest, Curtis said.

The National Merit Scholar is certainly a high achiever. He earned a 4.0 grade point average, scored 35 points (out of 36 possible points) on the ACT.

He also excels at tennis and was the captain of his varsity tennis team.

Curtis is going to the University of Michigan to study chemistry and math.

Anthony Martino has known since he was a young child that he would join the military.

The 17-year-old Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy graduate plans to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Martino said he spent his high school years "focused on academics and leadership opportunities" in order to reach that goal. He did, however, take some time to participate on the school's cross country and basketball teams.

Martino plans to attend the academy in the fall to study nuclear engineering. In five years, he sees himself as a "major or captain leading the great men and women of our armed forces."

The class valedictorian also is an ambassador of the National Society of High School Scholars and has served as president of the National Honors Society and Student Government.

Wenger's academic honors include being named her school's co-valedictorian.

On the court, her 5 ft. 9 in. stature earned her athletic recognition as a basketball center and volleyball spiker. As a senior, she served as captain of both teams.

She plans to attend Taylor University, an evangelical Christian college located in north central Indiana.

There, she'll study business with the idea of eventually founding a small business of her own.

"Or maybe I'll be an entrepreneur," she said. "That would be cool."

- Wayne Peal

Parker Mazure is a 2015 All-County Academic team member.

Parker Mazure

Flextech grad loves learning

Parker Mazure loves to
learn. And that has led to educational success and earned him a spot on the
2015 All-County Academic Team.

Mazure began his
educational career at Charyl Stockwell and he completed his freshman year at
the charter school before transferring to Lakeland High School. Mazure decided
that Lakeland did not provide the personal touch that he hoped to have in high
school so when a friend suggested Flextech High School, a college preparatory
school in Brighton, he decided to give it a chance. He signed up immediately.

In high school, he played
baseball, football and field hockey.

He was a member of the
school's Student and Community Outreach program and served as Leadership board
president

Mazure plans to attend
Mercy in the fall and he hopes to earn a degree in finance.

­--
Lisa Roose-Church

Emily Harper will attend Michigan State University to study math.Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily

Emily Harper

Grad ready to explore college outside of Fowlerville

Concrete numbers and
definite answers are what hooked Emily Harper's interest in math.

The Fowlerville High
School valedictorian will be attending Michigan State University in the fall,
where she will be majoring in math.

"I'm not exactly sure
what I want to do with math yet, but it's something I will figure out," the
All-County Academic Team member said.

Aside from her Advanced
Placement courses, Harper found an interest in macroeconomics - something she
said she would consider looking into while attending college.

The Fowlerville graduate
has received numerous academic honors, including being a National Merit
scholar, an AP scholar and named as Fowlerville's valedictorian.

In addition to her
academic achievements, Harper has been a part of the National Honor Society and
yearbook editor as well as participated in concert and marching band.

-- Abby Welsh

Kazyak plans to major in biology and chemistry at the University of Alabama.Alan Ward/Livingston Daily

Sara Kazyak

Hartland grad eyes medical career

Sara Kazyak would someday like to become an emergency medical physician.

But first, she is headed to the University of Alabama.

"Roll Tide!" said Kazyak, who graduated from Hartland High School with a 4.0 grade-point average to earn a spot on the Livingston Daily's 2015 All-County Academic Team.

To prepare for medical school, Kazyak plans to major in biology and chemistry and minor in Spanish.

Kazyak is an avid runner who participated in track and field all four years of high school and ran on the cross country team as a junior and senior.

She also found time to hold a part-time job at the Tommy Hilfiger store in the Tanger Outlet Center at Kensington Valley.

Kazyak is the daughter of Kevin and Pamela Kazyak. She has two younger brothers, Jacob and Joshua.

- Mike Lammi

Aside from his academic achievements, Schimmel also been involved in sports including tennis and golf.Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily

Nicolaas Schimmel

Dad inspired grad to pursue medical degree

When he first found out his father was diagnosed with cancer, Nicolaas Schimmel knew he wanted to pursue a medical degree. He was in the fifth grade.

Schimmel plans on attending Oakland University in the fall to pursue a degree in pre-med and biology. After that, his goal is to attend University of Michigan Medical School.

Because Schimmel has taken so many AP course at Howell High School, his hope is to complete his bachelor degree in three years.

Aside from his academic achievements Schimmel also been involved with several sports growing up, such as tennis and golf.

Growing up, he was always told by his parents to always try and do his best. So with that mind set, it's been natural for Schimmel to not stop until he's done his very best.

- Abby Welsh

Rachel Jansen, right, works with Davina McNaney, PTO member of the Shalom Lutheran Church Light of the World Academy, preparing hot dogs for the school's end-of-the-year picnic.Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily

Rachel Jansen

Pinckney grad wants to be brains of the operation

Rachel Jansen is fascinated by the human brain. So much so that the Pinckney Community High School valedictorian hopes to one day become a neurosurgeon.

Her quest to become a neurosurgeon will begin this fall at Michigan State University, where she plans to pursue a double major in biomedical laboratory science and neuroscience. Then she hopes to attend medical school, possibly at the University of Michigan.

On top of her studies, which earned her a 3.994 grade-point average at Pinckney, Jansen was a member of the school's Awakening Bible study group, volunteers at Shalom Lutheran Church and holds a part-time job at Marco's Pizza.

Jansen is the daughter of John and Patricia Jansen. She has two younger siblings, Daniel and Joel.